Deputy shot, listed as stable; 2 others also wounded

Saturday

May 28, 2011 at 7:05 PM

A Marion County Sheriff's deputy and two other men were shot Saturday afternoon during a strange confrontation.

By Austin L. MillerStaff writer

FORT McCOY — A man shot a Marion County sheriff's deputy and two other men Saturday afternoon during a confrontation here.According to Jenifer Lowe, public information officer for the Sheriff's Office, and witnesses, Deputy Owen Confessore was shot in the chest after responding to a domestic disturbance outside a group of mobile homes surrounded by thick woods.Confessore was wearing a bullet-proof vest, Lowe said, and his wounds appeared to be non-life-threatening. He was flown by helicopter to Shands Hospital at the University of Florida, where he was listed in stable condition.One witness, George Degree, told the Star-Banner he was dropping off his stepdaughter at the home, located at 16438 NE 154th Lane, and arrived to find Bruce McDonald, 31, with shotgun in hand, threatening people.According to Lowe and witnesses, Confessore was shot by McDonald, who — armed with the shotgun he had obtained from a home nearby — had argued with family members. McDonald is accused of also shooting his step-grandfather, Eli Kirk, who is in his 70s. Kirk was rushed to Shands at UF in critical condition.Witnesses and Lowe said McDonald shot Kirk in the torso as Kirk was sitting in a recliner inside the mobile home. The shooting occurred, witnesses said, after Kirk had tried to intervene in an argument between McDonald and his grandmother, who is Kirk's wife.After the shooting, witnesses said, McDonald took off on foot down a nearby trail.According to Lowe, Deputy Jeff Peebles was first to arrive at the home, responding to 911 calls of a domestic disturbance just before 4 p.m.Peebles went into the home to tend to the wounded grandfather, Lowe said. Meanwhile, Confessore arrived at the home and exited his vehicle. At this point, witnesses said, McDonald came up from behind and told Confessore to get onto the ground. As Confessore was getting ready to do so, witnesses said, Peebles came out of the home and McDonald opened fire on Confessore, after which both deputies opened fire on McDonald.After the exchange of gunfire, both deputies were able to wrestle McDonald to the ground, where he was handcuffed, Lowe said. It wasn't until after McDonald had been handcuffed, Lowe said, that Confessore realized he had been shot.McDonald, shot twice in the lower body, was taken to Munroe Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.Confessore has been with the Sheriff's Office close to 10 years. He had previously served as a detective and in the drug unit, but is now a road deputy.Both Confessore and Peebles will be placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard procedure in cases in which officers are involved in shootings. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has been called in to investigate the incident involving Confessore, while the Sheriff's Office will investigate McDonald's alleged shooting of his step-grandfather.Once McDonald is released from the hospital, Lowe said he will be charged with two counts of attempted murder, one of which will be against a law enforcement officer.

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